Cut Away The Death Traps

But would cutting off a hand, a foot, or an eye really save us from hell? No. We still have another hand, foot, or eye to keep on sinning with. The death trap lies much deeper. It’s in our very heart and soul. A few chapters backs you heard Jesus say, "From within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly" (Mark 7:21, 22 NIV). Death traps are what lead our hearts into sin.

Cut away the death traps. Flee temptation. Run away from sin. If that movie, TV program, book, magazine, friend, neighbor, job, hobby, sport, or activity is leading your heart away from Christ and into sin, cut it away. It’s a death trap. It’s not worth it. It will not bring you true happiness, but rather in the end only hell.

Yet the root of the problem isn’t those things outside of us, is it? Many things in this world push our hearts along in sin (so avoid them), but even cutting ourselves off from everything will not make our hearts better. So is the fire of hell the only future in front of us?

C. As God’s Word salts you

1. How can you stay salty?

No, dear friend, not at all! Don’t despair. Jesus speaks of another fire, not a fire that torments, but a fire that’s like salt. It purifies and preserves. "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mark 9:49, 50 NIV).

What is that which can penetrate to the very depths of our heart and soul cutting away the death trap within us? What is the salt the kills the bacteria of sin and preserves us for eternal life? What alone can purify our hearts, sanctifying us, making us pure and holy before God? What is the salt?

Listen to what Jesus says in his prayer in John 17: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17 NIV). God’s Word is the salt that penetrates your hearts to sanctify you so that those death traps are cut away and instead you, dear friend, are set apart for God. God’s Word alone purifies and preserves us for eternal life. For God’s Word in Scripture and in the Sacraments brings you Jesus and his blood that was shed for you. "The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 NIV).

Have this salt in yourself, dear friend. Keep God’s Word active in your heart. Don’t lose the saltiness by neglecting God’s Word. Have God’s Word within you. Have salt in yourselves.

And as that word lives in us, we are able to live at peace with one another. Instead of party pride laying death traps for others, we share the peace of Christ with one another. We live at peace, for Jesus has brought you and me his peace. Through his death he reconciled you to God. Be at peace. Even the deepest, darkest sin within your heart, the blood of Jesus purifies. You have peace. The peace of forgiveness. The peace of eternal life, which no hell can rob from you. Peace with God. The peace we share with each other as God’s Word salts our hearts. Amen.